Category Archives: LJ Pic of the Day

Tivoli Park Trio – Three Snaps From Ljubljana’s Central Park

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These were taken with my somewhat crappy Nokia mobile phone yesterday at Tivoli Park, giving you a general idea of what the center of Ljubljana looks like as seen from the west.  I purposely left home without my camera, throwing books in my pack instead. That didn’t keep me from snapping photos.

I don’t think the park is quite central in a purely geographic sense, but Tivoli has certainly become central to my life here over the past few years. It’s an amazing resource than lots of people here simply take for granted. Bad, bad, bad. But not this guy below who appears to have nearly mastered the art of camouflage.

These mark the 45th straight day I’ve posted at least one daily pic from Slovenia’s capital, part of a project that began back in January 2007. And I need to take a break. So I’m going to. :)

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Supermoon Minus 1

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This was last night’s moon as seen from the balcony, which I feel compelled to post as today’s LJ Pic of the Day in the event that I won’t be out there snapping tonight. I’m feeling kinda lousy and my body is telling me to sleep. Lots.

Some technical details for those interested: shot at f6.3, 1/400, 200 ASA, focal length 300, so obviously cropped. This was taken while the sky was still fairly blue, so shoot earlier if you generally wait until it’s dark when shooting the moon. That may not be news to some of you, but it was to me. :) Good luck and looking forward to lots of great pics tomorrow.

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Salamiad 2012

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Today’s LJ Pic of the Day is another call to action if you happen to be in Ljubljana tomorrow (Saturday 5 May), happen to not have afternoon plans, and happen to not be a vegetarian.

It’s the Salamijada 2012, in the village of Dvor pri Polhovem Gradcu, just west of Ljubljana, sponsored by the Vetrnik Tourist Association (Turistično Društvo Vetrnik). It’s a very pretty area and just about a 30-40 minutes bike ride west of the center.

Links (Slovenian only): [TD Vetrnik] [Salamijada] [Map Link]

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McCurry in Ljubljana, Thru June 17

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There won’t be too many of you who won’t recognize this iconic photo taken by Steve McCurry, whose work will be on exhibit at Ljubljana Castle through June 17.

McCurry popped into town today for tonight’s official opening, hosted by Slovenian President Danilo Turk. A facebook friend was kind enough to send me an invitation, but a late hour work-related boondoggle came up and kept me away. Call me Cinderfella. At least I’ve got the next month-and-a-half to make it up castle hill to check it out. If you’re in Ljubljana between now and mid-June, you should too.

More on the exhibit on the castle website. Admission 10 €.

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PS – I don’t a photographer has ever been the subject of a LJ Pic of the Day.

LJ Pic of the Day

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This is another shot of one of my favorite sculptures in Ljubljana, a memorial at Žale Cemetery for civilians killed during the German occupation of Ljubljana during the second World War.

I posted another of the same sculpture about a year-and-a-half ago and another four years before that, during the first week of the LJ Pic a Day chore, back in January 2007. It’s a very sobering monument, one I never tire of looking at.

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LJ Pic of the Day Hits 40, International Museum Day Reminder

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Considering it took me more than five years to manage a period of 40 (!) straight LJ Pic of Day postings, it’s no wonder that this otherwise subdued dude, permanently stationed in front of the Museum of Modern Art, is shouting the news to anyone who’ll listen.

Which reminds me: Friday 18 May is International Museum Day, and all museums and galleries in Ljubljana will be participating as well, offering free admission, special workshops, lectures, and more. Here’s a good starting point for a museum directory. Ljubljana in Your Pocket has a very good, continually update culture and events listing with plenty of museum, gallery and exhibit links.

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Cossack-dancing Chinese-Slovenian Pre-teens

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Today’s LJ Pic of the Day is from another neighborhood Chinese restaurant, Halo Shaolin, which is almost directly across the street from the main train and bus station. Is there anything that screams ‘EAT HERE’ more than a bald pre-pubescent boy wielding an impaled roasted chicken while doing a Cossack dance?

No, I didn’t think so.

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Eastern Europe Envy

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I just came across this interesting piece –Six Enviable Traits From Eastern Europe– in Big Think by Francis Tapon who spent the past three years traveling in 25 Eastern European countries. Just six?  ;)

Two stand out:

1. There’s one characteristic that all Eastern Europeans share, from Finland to Macedonia, from Slovenia to Ukraine—it’s toughness. Eastern Europeans are a gritty, intense, and supernaturally sturdy people. Communism, wars, and winters have sculpted their tradition of getting by with little. They may whine and complain, but they’ll endure any hardship and overcome any challenge with a stoic and grim determination.

and

3. Eastern European cities have outstanding pedestrian zones.

He also describes Slovenians as workaholics. Like the ego-trippin’ dude at top whose boots are certainly the envy of everyone he crosses paths with. He’s working over-time today –on a holiday no less– moonlighting as the subject for today’s LJ Pic of the Day.

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Project USA Update

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USA, as we all know, stands for Uninspired Socialist Architecture, the working title of a photo project I’ve been toying with for the past few months.

There’s no shortage of USA, constructed in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, here in Ljubljana, so plenty of fodder to play with to piece together a collection drab enough to suit the subject matter.  This, the 36th (!) straight LJ Pic of the Day, was snapped during the tail end of an early evening bike ride.  Thoughts?

James Joyce Slept Here

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At Ljubljana’s train station. Once. For one night. And he got this monument to memorialize the chilly October evening in 1904 he spent in the Slovenian capital. I’ve slept in lots of places –train stations, too– and have yet to receive a plaque.

This was dedicated on Bloomsday 2003, so Joyce’s accidental night in Ljubljana did take nearly 99 years to be properly remembered. And another nine before becoming an LJ Pic of the Day. So I guess I’ll be a bit more patient for my monuments.

By the way – he and his wife were on their way to Trieste where he spent much of the next decade and where he wrote The Dubliners and Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. The snap below is his statue on the Canal Grande. I like how his spectacles meld with his eyes.

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These snaps are also this week’s contribution for Travel Photo Thursday (#TPThursday on twitter) hosted by Nancie on her website, Budget Travelers Sandbox. When you have few minutes to browse, check out Nancie’s photos and those of others who take part. You’ll see some great photos and visit some wonderful places. The direct link this week is here.

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High End Cognac Shopping in Ljubljana

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These bottles of high end cognac have been in the wine and spirits section of Maximarket for months –maybe even years, I’m losing track of time– and they still look just as out of place now as they did on the day they were put there. At least they’re dusted on occasion.


The highest ticket item is this Louis XIII Remy Martin, at €1991.20. For that price the pedestal should look less Barbie-like. Below is the Camus Cuvee, a close runner-up at €1969.00. (Sorry, I didn’t jot down further details about the bottle).

If you still can’t get over the absurdity of today’s LJ PIcs of the Day and are on a tighter budget, they’ve also got a bottle of Hennesy Richard (€1758.90) and Martell d’Or, at €1145.50 in stock. Is anyone else wondering if the beverage manager who ordered these still has her job?

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Unrelated: If you’re in Ljubljana Wednesday (25th), stop by the Dvornibar WIne Bar for their bi-weekly promo tastings. Up this week are sparkling wines from Silveri. Directions on the website (http://www.dvornibar.net/).

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T is for Trees

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__________________
If you haven’t guessed,
T is for Trees as I try to regroup for the final week
of the Blogging From A to Z Challenge 2012.
Check out more participants here.

My explanation for this is here.

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Most of these trees are in Ljubljana, which makes them, collectively, the 32nd straight LJ Pic of the Day.

Hey! Join me on Twitter.